Organotin miticidal and insecticidal compounds

ABSTRACT

A composition of matter is described herein which has insecticidal and miticidal activity and methods of use. The composition may be defined by the following generic formula ##EQU1## wherein X can be oxygen or sulfur; R 1  and R 2  can be the same or different and can be selected from lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, cycloalkoxy, thiophenyl, haloalkyl, alkoxythioalkyl, thiocyano, furfuryloxy, alkyldioxolanealkoxy and sulfolaneyloxy.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 293,974, filed Oct. 2, 1972, and a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 208,046, filed Dec. 10, 1971, both now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Among the many insecticidal and miticidal compounds available, the organotin compounds have reached a relatively high degree of commercial success. Specifically, the organotins described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,264,177, 3,591,614 and 3,591,615 are widely used. These compounds, however, suffer from considerable unstability due to the presence of an ester linkage to the tin atom. Thus, these compounds are quite susceptible to hydrolysis on use. Additionally, the organotin compounds described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,321,361 and 3,321,365 are useful as insecticides. However, these compounds are quite toxic to vegetation and thus have extremely limited use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It has been discovered that certain organotin compounds have relatively low phytotoxicity properties and are relatively stable. These organotin compounds may be defined by the following generic formula ##EQU2## wherein X can be oxygen or sulfur; R₁ and R₂ can be the same or different and can be selected from a group consisting of lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, cycloalkoxy, thiophenyl, haloalkyl, alkoxythioalkyl, thiocyano, furfuryloxy, alkyldioxolanealkoxy and sulfolaneyloxy. The term alkyl is defined as branched or straight chain alkyls having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the practice of the present invention, the compounds of the present invention are manufactured by reacting an alkyl tin halide with an alkali phosphate in a neutral solvent. The halide moiety in the alkyl tin halides can be selected from a group consisting of chlorine, bromine and iodine. After the compounds of the present invention are formed, they can be applied to the habitat in an effective amount to control respective mites and insects.

The following examples illustrate the merits of the present invention:

EXAMPLE 1 ##SPC1##

A mixture was formed containing 10.1 grams of tricyclohexyltin chloride (0.025 M), 7.6 grams potassium diisopropyl dithiophosphate (0.03 M) and 100 ml. of acetone. The mixture was heated to reflux for 1.5 hours and then filtered. The filtrate was evaporated in vacuo and taken up in water (100 ml.) and methylene chloride (100 ml.), dried over magnesium sulfate and evaporated in a vacuum to yield 6.5 grams of product.

EXAMPLE 2 ##SPC2##

The procedure of Example 1 was repeated in its entirety except 8.4 grams of potassium diisobutyl dithiophosphate was substituted for the potassium diisopropyl dithiophosphate.

Other compounds were made in a similar manner using appropriate starting materials. The compounds are listed in Table I.

TABLE I ##SPC3## INSECTICIDAL EVALUATION TESTS

The following insect species are subjected to evaluation tests for insecticidal activity.

1. Housefly (HF) -- Musca domestica (Linn.)

2. Lygus Bug (LB) -- Lygus hesperus (Knight)

3. Bean Aphid (BA) -- Aphis fabae (Scop.)

4. Two-spotted Mite (2-SM) -- Tetranychus urticae (Koch)

5. Salt-Marsh Caterpillar (SMC -- Estigmene acrea (Drury)

6. Beet armyworm (BAW) -- Spodoptera exigua (Hubner)

7. Tobacco budworm (TBW) -- Heliothis virescens (Fabricius)

Aliquots of the toxicants, dissolved in an appropriate solvent, are diluted in water containing 0.002% of a wetting agent, Sponto 221 (a polyoxyether of alkylated phenols blended with organic sulfonates). Test concentrations range from 0.1% downward to that at which 50% mortality is obtained. In the tests, for these species, ten 1-month old nymphs of the Lygus Bug are placed in a circular cardboard cage sealed on one end with cellophane and covered by a cloth netting on the other. Test concentrations for the Lygus Bug ranged from 0.05% downward to that at which 50% mortality was obtained. Each of the aqueous suspensions of the candidate compounds are sprayed onto the insects through the cloth netting by means of a hand spray gun. Percent mortality in each case is recorded after 72 hours, and the LD₅₀ value expressed as percent of toxicant in the aqueous spray is recorded. The results are in Table II under Column LB.

The following procedure is used to test houseflies: A stock solution containing 0.1 percent by weight of the toxicant in an appropriate solvent is prepared. Aliquots of this solution are combined with 1 milliliter of an acetone-peanut oil solution in a glass Petri dish and allowed to dry. The aliquots are selected to achieve desired toxicant concentration ranging from 100 μg per Petri dish to that at which 50% mortality was attained. The Petri dishes are placed in a circular cardboard cage, closed on the bottom with cellophane and covered on top with cloth netting. Twenty-five female houseflies are introduced into the cage and the percent mortality is recorded after 48 hours. The LD₅₀ values are expressed in terms of μg per 25 female flies. LD₅₀ values obtained in the above-mentioned housefly test are found in Table II under Column HF.

The compound is dissolved in the appropriate solvent and diluted to a concentration of 0.1 percent with water containing 0.015% Sponto 221. A portion of the leaf from a bitter dock (Rumex obtusifolius) plant is immersed in the test solution for 10 seconds and allowed to dry. When dry, the leaf is placed in a Petri dish containing a 9 cm disc of moistened filter paper. Five 3rd-instar saltmarsh caterpillar larvae are placed on the treated leaf. Mortality is recorded after 72 hours. Test concentrations range from 0.1 percent to that at which 50% mortality is obtained. This latter concentration is recorded as the LD₅₀ value for the test compound.

The test method for the cotton bollworm, beet armyworm and tobacco budworm is identical to the above except that Romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is used as the test plant rather than bitter dock.

The compounds are also active against two-spotted mite (2-SM) Tetranychus urticae (Koch). Pinto bean plants (Phaseolus sp.) are utilized as the host plant and infested with 50 to 75 mites of various ages. Twenty-four hours after infestation, they are sprayed to the point of run off with aqueous suspension of the toxicant. Test concentrations range from 0.05% to that at which 50% mortality is obtained. The values obtained in this test are found in Table II under the Columns 2SM-PE and 2SM-Eggs.

The compounds are also active against bean aphid (Aphis fabae (Scop.)) as a contact toxicant. The same test procedure as given for the two-spotted mite above is used for the bean aphid except nasturtium (Tropaeolum sp.) plants approximately 2 to 3 inches tall are used as the host plant. The LD₅₀ values obtained for the compounds of this invention are found in Table II under Column BA.

The compounds of this invention are generally embodied into a form suitable for convenient application. For example, the compounds can be embodied into pesticidal composition which are provided in the form of emulsions, suspensions, solutions, dusts and aerosol sprays. In general, such compositions will contain, in addition to the active compound, the adjuvants which are found normally in pesticide preparations. In these compositions, the active compounds of this invention can be employed as the sole pesticide component or they can be used in admixture with other compounds having similar utility. The pesticide compositions of this invention can contain, as adjuvants, organic solvents, such as sesame oil, xylene range solvents, heavy petroleum, etc.; water; emulsifying agents; surface active agents; talc; pyrophyllite; diatomite; gypsum; clays; propellants, such as dichlorodifluoromethane, etc. If desired, however, the active compounds can be applied directly to feedstuffs, seeds, etc. upon which the pests feed. When applied in such a manner, it will be advantageous

                                      TABLE II                                     __________________________________________________________________________     2SM                                                                                 HF    LB   BA     PE  EGGS SMC   BAW   TBW                                Example                                                                             μg/25 +                                                                           %    %      %    %   %     %     %                                  __________________________________________________________________________     1    >100  >.05 .008  0.0008                                                                              0.03 0.03  0.01  >.1                                2    100   >.05 .03   0.0008                                                                              0.003                                                                               0.03  0.03  0.08                               3    80    .05  .01   0.0005                                                                              0.003                                                                               0.1   0.05  0.1                                4    80    .05  .03   0.0008                                                                              0.003                                                                               >.1   0.03  >.1                                5    85    .05  .03   0.001                                                                               0.008                                                                               0.05  0.01  >.1                                6    50    >.05 .01   0.001                                                                               0.003                                                                               0.01  0.03  >.1                                7    50    >.05 .03   0.003                                                                               0.008                                                                               0.008 0.008 0.1                                8    90    >.05 .05   0.0005                                                                              0.003                                                                               --    0.01  0.1                                9    100   >.05 >.05  0.0003                                                                              0.008                                                                               >10   --    >.1                                10   80    >.05 .03   0.0005                                                                              0.008                                                                               .1    .01   .01                                11   65    >.05 .05   0.0003                                                                              0.003                                                                               .1    .01   >.1                                12   65    >.05 .03   0.0003                                                                              0.003                                                                               .1    .01   >.1                                13   65    >.05 .03   0.0003                                                                              0.003                                                                               .1    .03   >.1                                14   65    >.05 .05   0.0003                                                                              0.003                                                                               >.1   --    >.1                                15   65    >.05 .03   0.0008                                                                              0.003                                                                               >.1   .05   >.1                                16   65    >.05 .01   0.0003                                                                              0.0008                                                                              0.03  <0.005                                                                               .008                               __________________________________________________________________________

to use a compound which is not volatile. In connection with the activity of the presently disclosed pesticidal compounds, it should be fully understood that it is not necessary that they be active as such. The purposes of this invention will be fully served if the compound is rendered active by external influences, such as light or by some physiological action which occurs when the compound is ingested into the body of the pest.

The precise manner in which the pesticidal compositions of this invention are used in any particular instance will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art. Generally, the active pesticide compound will be embodied in the form of a liquid composition; for example, an emulsion, suspension, or aerosol spray. While the concentration of the active pesticide in the present compositions can vary within rather wide limits, ordinarily the pesticide compound will comprise not more than about 15.0% by weight of the composition. Preferably, however, the pesticide compositions of this invention will be in the form of solutions or suspensions containing about 0.1 to 1.0% by weight of the active pesticide compound. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A composition of matter consisting of the formula ##EQU3## wherein R₁ and R₂ are selected from radicals consisting of lower alkoxy having 1-6 carbon atoms and cyclohexoxy.
 2. A composition of claim 1 wherein R₁ and R₂ are ##EQU4##
 3. A composition of claim 1 wherein R₁ and R₂ are ##EQU5##
 4. A composition of claim 1 wherein R₁ and R₂ are --O--CH₂ --CH₂ --CH₃.
 5. A composition of claim 1 wherein R₁ and R₂ are --O--C₂ H₅.
 6. A composition of claim 1 wherein R₁ and R₂ are ##SPC4## 